Right-wing protesters clashed with police Sunday during celebrations in Warsaw for the Polish National Independence Day. At least two police officers were injured in the fights that broke out, marking the second consecutive year of violence during the ceremonies.

Protesters from both right-wing and left-wing groups gathered in the Polish capitol to confront each other.

Many of the right-wing protesters were young men with scarf-covered faces, attempting to conceal their identities. They were heard chanting nationalist slogans, as well as anti-Jewish hate speech.

The protests escalated when right-wing demonstrators began throwing firecrackers and other projectiles at police. The police responded by beating the attackers with truncheons.

The fights intensified when protesters started tearing off pieces of concrete and hurling them at the law enforcement officers. When the altercation increased, police shot rubber bullets and used pepper gas against the aggressors.

Poland’s residents are deeply divided, with some people finding themselves on the conservative side, opposed to concepts such as abortion and gay marriage, while others belong to the more liberal front, who are in favor of more involvement with mainstream Europe and its ideals.

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